The title is one of the University’s highest honours. Individuals are selected on their distinguished service to teaching, research, creative and scholarly works and service.

Each of the awardees contributed to the Faculty and UM throughout their accomplished research and academic careers. Their nominations read:

Harold Aukema, Food and Human Nutritional Sciences

A dedicated faculty member for 26 years, Dr. Harold Aukema has made transformative contributions to nutritional science, becoming a global leader in the study of diet and fatty acid metabolites, known as oxylipins.

His pioneering research has advanced understanding of dietary interventions for kidney health, directly shaping national and international dietary recommendations for polycystic kidney disease. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals of nutrition, lipid, and renal research. His widely cited review on oxylipins derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids is regarded as a foundational reference for researchers and graduate nutrition programs worldwide. His extensive collaborations, spanning Canada and abroad, have influenced research across a wide range of diseases.

An equally dedicated educator, Dr. Aukema has supervised over 35 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in academia, health, government, and industry. He has served the Faculty of Human Ecology and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in administrative leadership roles and has contributed to many university and national committees.

Dr. Aukema was also a founding member of CanU Canada, an initiative that has provided nutrition education to more than 2,000 youth while creating experiential learning opportunities for UM undergraduate students. For his achievements in research, teaching, and service, Dr. Aukema has received numerous awards from the Canadian Nutrition Society and the University of Manitoba.

Ying Chen, Biosystems Engineering

A dedicated educator, Dr. Chen developed and taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, while supervising 40 graduate students and mentoring numerous post-doctoral fellows, visiting scholars, and summer students. Known for her dynamic, student-focused approach, she inspired excellence in her classroom and was honoured with the Faculty of Engineering Award for Excellence in Engineering Education. A strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, she also championed programs that encouraged and supported women in engineering.

Dr. Chen established the Machinery and Soil Dynamics Lab, pioneering research on soil-tillage interaction. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in agricultural machinery and soil dynamics, authoring 134 peer-reviewed scientific articles that are widely cited. Her extensive collaborations with industry advanced both theory and practice in biosystems engineering. Notably, she co-developed a machine for harvesting fiber crops generated worldwide interest.

Her leadership includes service as Graduate Chair and Associate Head in her department and as President of the Canadian Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CSABE). In recognition of her professional impact, she has been elected Fellow of the CSABE, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Qiang Zhang, Biosystems Engineering

A dedicated faculty member for 36 years, Dr. Qiang Zhang has advanced the field of biosystems engineering through his exceptional teaching, research, and leadership. In his storied career, he served the University of Manitoba as Professor, Department Head, Acting Associate Head, and Acting Associate Dean.

An innovative and adaptative educator, Dr. Zhang created nine new courses and taught 15 different courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. With a strong commitment to mentorship, he supervised 97 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates, and supported many others through advisory roles. His teaching excellence was recognized with the Price Faculty of Engineering Graduating Class Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022.

Dr. Zhang established three laboratory facilities and maintained a well-funded research program, securing more than $21 million in research funding as principal or co-investigator. Internationally renowned for his research in agricultural engineering, his recent work in smart vertical farming has had immense local impact, helping to increase food security in northern and Indigenous communities.

Highly regarded by his peers, he served as President of the Canadian Society for Agricultural and Bioengineering (CSABE) (formerly CSBE), was elected a CSABE Fellow, and received its greatest honour, the Maple Leaf Award, in recognition of his leadership and impact.

While it seems plausible the Canadian Prairie winters would solve the insect problem, the cold is not as effective as one might think. Researchers at the University of Manitoba’s Department of Biosystems Engineering – led by Fuji Jian, associate professor at the university – have been looking into what temperatures are needed to keep insect populations under control, how quickly they reproduce and how these insects move and behave within stored grain.

To read the complete article, visit Top Crop Manager.

Established in 2021 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Manitoba, the Alumni of Influence Awards celebrate graduates who have made significant impacts in their fields.

“Our alumni have been influencers and change-makers in the various spheres within which they work and live,” says Dr. Danny Mann, Head of the Department of Biosystems Engineering. “These awards give us the opportunity to honour their achievements and inspire future generations of engineers.”

Recipients are selected by the Department’s Alumni Awards Committee, with separate categories for graduates prior to 1995 from the former Department of Agricultural Engineering and those after 1995 from the current Department of Biosystems Engineering.

Recipients for 2025

Undergraduate (pre-1995): Dennis Hodgkinson

Dennis graduated from the Agricultural Engineering program in 1976. Following a 12-year career in Manitoba’s public service as a waste management specialist and livestock building design specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Dennis successfully combined his engineering and entrepreneurial skills to found and operate DGH Engineering in 1989. The business grew from a one-man practice to an engineering firm with more than 70 employees. DGH Engineering provides engineering, design, and construction management to agricultural, industrial, institutional and commercial building projects. Specific to the agricultural engineering sector, DGH Engineering specializes in livestock barns, animal research facilities, meat harvesting & processing facilities, grain & feed milling, and crop handling, processing & storage facilities. Overall, Dennis worked for over 45 years in the agricultural and industrial building design sector until his retirement in January 2024.

Apart from his responsibilities with DGH Engineering, Dennis was active in the Canadian Society for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CSABE). He served various roles on Council including President (2009) and Vice-President (Industry). He was a recipient of the Young Engineer of the Year Award in 1984, the John Turnbull Award in 1997 in recognition of outstanding contributions to the structural field of agricultural engineering and the Fellow Award in 2018. Dennis was awarded the title of “Fellow of Engineers Canada” in recognition of outstanding support to the Engineering Profession in 2011.

Undergraduate (1995-present): Michael Gregoire

Michael graduated from the Biosystems Co-op Program in 2002, having previously completed an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Architecture. After graduating from Biosystems Engineering, he worked in consulting engineering for FWS Construction and then with Crosier Kilgour and Partners. His area of practice during his consulting years was in structural and building envelope remediation for existing buildings.

In 2008, Michael moved into regulatory work at Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba. By 2014, he moved into a leadership role as the Director of Professional Standards. In that role, Michael was responsible for managing: legislation changes; standards (guidelines and practice notes); reporting of professional development activities by engineers; investigations of complaints made against engineers; and enforcement actions against persons illegally practicing engineering. In his time at Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, Michael has overseen the following initiatives: i) Implementation of the ProDev Program, ii) Changes to The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Act (2015 & 2022), iii) A project to re-write the entirety of the Association’s By-laws (2017-2019), iv) Re-structuring of the policies and resources for the disciplinary process; and v) Implementation of e-learning modules to proactively address standards issues.

In 2023, Michael was chosen by the Council of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba to take on the role of Interim CEO, Registrar and Secretary of the Association, eventually moving from the interim to a permanent position after a national search. Michael values his education in Biosystems Engineering and talks about his very positive experiences in the Department at public platforms. He is a great ambassador for Biosystems.

Graduate (1995-present): Jitendra Paliwal

Jitendra graduated from the MSc program in Biosystems Engineering in 1997 and again from the PhD program in Biosystems Engineering in 2002. He joined the Department of Biosystems Engineering as an Assistant Professor in 2002 where he founded the Imaging and Spectroscopy Laboratory to focus on non-invasive grain quality monitoring, leading the development of cutting-edge technologies for post-harvest processing of grains, pulses, and oilseeds. His work has led to the creation of cost-effective near-infrared (NIR) analyzers, advanced bin monitoring systems, and imaging techniques that detect spoilage precursors, significantly improving food safety and storage efficiency. His innovative adaptation of a cancer imaging modality to grain storage monitoring has achieved notable commercial success, underscoring his impact on industry and technology transfer in Manitoba.

Dr. Paliwal’s prolific research record includes over 175 peer-reviewed publications, three patents, six book chapters, and more than $12 million in competitive and contract research funding. He has mentored an impressive cadre of students and research staff, guiding 105 student theses and supervising 21 post-doctoral fellows and 7 research associates. Internationally, Dr. Paliwal holds honorary professorships at top institutions such as South China University of Technology and Amity University, and leads collaborations spanning North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. As a founding member of the International Society for Biological Shape Analysis, he bridges engineering with medicine and biological sciences.

Dr. Paliwal’s professional service includes extensive involvement with Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM), where he served as President during its centennial year, and Engineers Canada, where he currently represents Manitoba. He is a Fellow of Engineers Canada and has received multiple accolades for technical excellence, service, and mentorship, including the CSBE John Clark Award and the University of Manitoba’s Merit Award for teaching, research, and service, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Outstanding Administrator Award.

Dr. Jitendra Paliwal is a globally recognized leader in engineering research and academic administration. With over two decades of distinguished service at the University of Manitoba and now at the University of Winnipeg, Dr. Paliwal has demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing research and innovation in the fields of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

This year’s celebration honoured 10 exemplary individuals, including a Chancellor Emeritus and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

Congratulations to all the 2025 honourees.

Chancellor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Anne Mahon with certificate for Chancellor Emeritus.

Ms. Anne Mahon served with distinction as the University’s 14th Chancellor from 2019 to 2025, where she brought compassion, wisdom, and a deep commitment to community to her role. A bridge-builder and philanthropist, Ms. Mahon is known for connecting people and inspiring positive change. Her work at the intersection of storytelling, community-building, and education has amplified the voices of those marginalized and often unheard.

Ms. Mahon has dedicated herself to volunteerism and advocacy, including working closely with United Way Winnipeg, founding and facilitating the Bookmates Book Club at the Women’s Correctional Centre, and volunteering with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, Humankind International, and Palliative Manitoba. Her leadership and compassion have left an enduring mark on the University of Manitoba, thereby earning the title of Chancellor Emeritus.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Leslie Roos with certificate for Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

The University of Manitoba was honoured to confer upon Dr. Leslie Roos the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. An influential scholar and innovative leader in population health and health policy research, Dr. Roos joined the University of Manitoba in 1973. Over the course of his distinguished career in the Faculties of Administrative Studies (now the Asper School of Business) and Medicine, he helped establish the university as an international centre of excellence in health services research and data-informed policy.

As a founder of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Dr. Roos led the creation of its internationally respected population health database, enabling groundbreaking studies on the health and well-being of Manitobans. He has played a central role in training and inspiring a generation of researchers whose work continues to shape Canadian health systems and stands among the most influential contributors to health policy research globally.

Professor Emeriti:

• Dr. Harold Aukema
• Dr. Ying Chen
• Dr. Kevin Coombs
• Prof. Herbert Enns
• Dr. Elissavet Kardami
• Dr. Eberhard Renner
• Dr. Wayne Simpson
• Dr. Qiang Zhang

To learn more about the 2025 honourees, please visit the Emeritus/Emerita Titles webpage to read their individual citations.

Emeriti titles are one of several awards given annually by the university in celebrating and recognizing the success of colleagues and other distinguished individuals. Learn about the university awards nomination process.

According to Ranjan Sri Ranjan, a University of Manitoba professor in the department of biosystems engineering, this summer’s ever-changing weather is making it a tough year for producers.

“Most of the time, what we are experiencing is extremes in climate. That is, either we have too much water coming all at once, or we are having many days without any rain and drought conditions. This is becoming more (of an issue) than 10 years ago,” Ranjan said.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to 980 CJME.

This is what Fuji Jian, associate professor at the University of Manitoba, presented in the opening session of Top Crop Manager’s virtual In the Bin: Grain Storage Seminar in early July. With a strong research background in post-harvest grain quality, grain physical properties, grain drying and aeration, grain handling, sensor development and more, Jian shared the results from four studies to provide clarity on canola storage and aeration strategies.

To read the full story, please visit the Top Crop Manager article.

 Erkinbaev is the 2024 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Applied Sciences category, in recognition of his research that supports real-time monitoring of food quality and safety using smart sensing technologies. 

 UM Today caught up with Erkinbaev to learn more about him and his research. 

 Tell us a bit about yourself and your research. 

 I am an associate professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering. Prior to my academic position at the University of Manitoba, I worked in several international universities and research centres around the globe. 
 My research broadly focuses on integrating chemico-physical, engineering and digital domains to revolutionize the food processing and agri-food sector. I use advanced spectroscopic and imaging methods coupled with machine learning for rapid and accurate prediction of the quality of various food matrices. I also investigate the mechanisms of complex compositional and microstructural transformations in food while processing.  

 Why is this research important? 
 Food quality and safety control throughout the entire food processing chain play an important role in the modern food industry. Therefore, developing accurate and robust quality control methods can help to reduce food losses, increase processing efficiency and produce high-quality food products.  
 Through my research program, I aim to drive the development and industrial adoption of intelligent sensing technologies for real-time monitoring of food quality. 

 What does the Rh Award mean to you? 

 Receiving the Rh award is an immense honour. This prestigious award is a recognition of my research by peers and an acknowledgment of my research team’s effort. It very much motivates me for new discoveries. I am also thankful for the people who nominated me for the award.     

 What do you hope to achieve in the future? 

 Currently, I am on research and study leave and testing some of the research hypotheses, which bothered me for a while.  

 In the future, I hope to make a significant contribution to the area of my research expertise to tackle the challenges in postharvest food production. I plan to expand my research group and establish international collaborations, representing Canadian research excellence. I also aspire to be a knowledgeable, supportive and inspiring educator. 

 What about you would people find surprising? 

 Being a multi-lingual, I surprise people by starting conversations in their native languages. I’m always ready for their standard question: “How come you speak my language?”  

 Any advice for early career researchers and students? 

 A good mentor can help you save a lot of time and energy—do not hesitate to ask for advice and be able to adapt suggestions for your needs. Stay focused on achieving your short- and long-term goals, prioritize your well-being and spend more time with your family. Stay curious and persistent in your daily life.   

“It is wonderful to see Dr. Hu recognized for his decades of research in fundamental science, working behind the scenes to improve the smart devices we depend on every day,” says Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President (research & International). “These awards are an important opportunity for UM to celebrate researchers across who are making frontier discoveries that lead later to transformative impacts in society. I congratulate all the recipients on this well-deserved honour.”

Awards are given in two categories: The Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, awarded to one established faculty member annually and the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Awards, awarded to seven early career faculty members.

Can-Ming Hu, distinguished professor of Physics and Astronomy at the UM Faculty of Science, is the recipient of the Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award in recognition of his advancements in quantum material interactions, helping shape the next generation of communication technology.

Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award recipients are:

Applied Sciences

Dr. Chyngyz Erkinbaev (biosystems engineering) is a scientist whose research is advancing intelligent sensing techniques in food production. Erkinbaev is internationally recognized for his leadership integrating engineering, digital and biological research in the real-time monitoring of food quality and safety using smart sensing technologies.

Dr. Xihui (Larry) Liang (mechanical engineering) is a leading innovator in the predictive maintenance of machinery such as gearboxes, pumps and turbine engines. Liang’s independent research program at the Price Faculty of Engineering is driving advancements in reliability and efficiency for critical energy infrastructure.

Creative Activities

Ms. Anna Binta Diallo (School of Art) is an interdisciplinary visual artist who blends collaged images, vinyl adhesives and sculptural forms to create dynamic gallery and public space installations. Diallo’s research is focused on re-framing and re-mixing stories as a means of de-centering dominant Eurocentric narratives in contemporary art.

Health Sciences

Dr. Heather Armstrong (internal medicine) conducts groundbreaking research on how diet, environment, and the gut microbiome interact to influence gastrointestinal diseases and immune health. Armstrong works with national and local patient cohorts to develop precision nutrition tools to support those with inflammatory bowel disease and other gut-related conditions. 

Dr. Christy Pylypjuk (obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences) holds multifaceted clinical roles as Assistant Director of the Obstetrical Outreach Program, Assistant Director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program and Health Sciences Centre Site Lead for the Canadian Preterm Birth Network. Her research uses fetal ultrasound to improve outcomes for pregnant patients and their babies.

Natural Sciences

Dr. Savino Longo (physics and astronomy) conducts research in experimental subatomic physics to explore the origins of the universe. Longo is a leader of international collaborations to better understand the building blocks of matter using high-energy matter-antimatter collisions as well as the development of new technologies for subatomic particle detectors.

Social Sciences

Dr. Patricia Thille (physical therapy) is a research-intensive associate professor at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences focused on issues like body size, chronic pain and self-management in community-based care. With expertise in both physiotherapy and sociology, Thille seeks to expose stigma and promote equity in health care.

To learn more about research excellence at UM, visit our Awards and Recognition webpage.

Tile drainage can significantly improve soil conditions by accelerating warming and reducing compaction, allowing farmers to access fields earlier in the season, according to a University of Manitoba expert.

Ranjan Sri Ranjan, a professor in the department of biosystems engineering at the University of Manitoba, says water needs five times more heat to warm up compared to dry soil — and the only source of energy to warm soil is the sun.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to Grainews.

Role of Participants:
You will be asked to do the following:

1. Conduct an internet search task to answer specific agronomic questions (on a screen) and then move focus to another computer monitor (where you will be informed about the statutory information of a simulated autonomous machine using combination warning methods- visual-auditory and visual-tactile).
2. You are to select the right choice of condition based on perceived warning from a list of possible conditions to acknowledge comprehension.
3. You will be presented with a computer system usability questionnaire (CSUQ) and an end-of-session questionnaire to rank each warning mode(s) and give your personal experience during the entire experiment respectively.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:
Potential participants must be willing to submit to auditory, visual, and tactile screening with farming experience (i.e., individuals actively engaged in farming) and should be in the age bracket of 18-65 years old. Participants who are less than 18 years old or more than 65 years old would not be eligible. Also, participants with impaired vision and hearing would be ineligible.

$25.00 Tim Hortons Gift Card will be provided as honorarium.

Interested?
Email Anita (Principal Investigator): ezeagbaa@myumanitoba.ca,
Phone: 431-335-9730 or
Dr. Danny Mann (Advisor): danny.mann@umanitoba.ca for more information

This research has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus. If you have any concerns or complaints about this project, you may contact any of the below-named persons or the Human Ethics Coordinator at 204-474-7122, humanethics@umanitoba.ca